How to Write Test Cases: Sample Template with Examples

What is Test Case?

A Test Case is a set of actions executed to verify a particular feature or functionality of your software application.

This tutorial describes test case designing and the importance of its various components.

Now, consider the Test Scenario Check Login Functionality there many possible cases like

Test Case 1: Check results on entering valid User Id & Password

Test Case 2: Check results on entering Invalid User ID & Password

Test Case 3: Check response when User ID is Empty & Login Button is pressed, and many more

This is nothing but Test Case. Test scenarios are rather vague and cover a wide range of possibilities. Testing is all about being very specific.Hence, we need Test Cases

Video Transcript

• Now just Consider the test case, Check the response on entering valid Agent Name and password. It's obvious that this test case needs input values viz.Agent Name & Password
• This is nothing but Test Data. Identifying test data can be time-consuming and may sometimes require creating test data afresh. The reason it needs to be documented
• Before we proceed ahead consider a quote from a witty man who said "To ensure perfect aim, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target" But if you do not live by this philosophy, which I am sure most of you do not then your Test case must have an expected result.
• For our test case, expected result would be, Login should be successful
• If expected results are not documented, we may miss out on small differences in calculations in results that otherwise look OK.
• Consider this example, where you are calculating monthly pay for an employee which involves lots of calculations. The need for documenting expected results becomes obvious.
• Suppose the author of the test case has left the organization or is on a vacation or is sick and off duty or is very busy with other critical tasks and you are recently hired and have been asked to execute the test case.Since you are new, it would certainly help to have test steps documented which, in this case, would be Launch application, Enter Agent Name, Enter Password, Click OK
• You may wonder that for this simple test steps, documentation is not required
• But what is your test steps looked something like this? (pic in video) I think the need will become instantaneously obvious.
• That apart your test case -may have field like, Pre - Condition which specifies things that must in place before the test can run
• For our test case, a pre-condition would be Flight Reservation Application should be installed, which I am sure 50% of the people watching this tutorial do not have
• Also, your test case may also include Post - Conditions which specifies anything that applies after the test case completes.
• For our test case, a post - condition would be time & date of login is stored in the database
• During test case execution, you will document the results observed in the Actual Results column and may even attach some screen shots and based on the results give PASS & FAIL status.
• This entire table may be created in Word, Excel or any other Test management tool.That's all to Test Case Design

Format of Standard Test Cases

Below is format of a standard login Test case

While drafting a test case do include the following information

• The description of what requirement is being tested
• The explanation of how the system will be tested
• The test setup like: version of application under test, software, data files, operating system, hardware, security access, physical or logical date, time of day, prerequisites such as other tests and any other setup information pertinent to the requirements being tested
• Inputs and outputs or actions and expected results
• Any proofs or attachments
• Use active case language
• Test Case should not be more than 15 steps
• Automated test script is commented with inputs, purpose and expected results
• Setup offers alternative to pre-requisite tests
• With other tests, it should be incorrect business scenario order

Best Practice for writing good Test Case Example.

1. Test Cases need to be simple and transparent:

Create test cases that are as simple as possible. They must be clear and concise as the author of test case may not execute them.

Use assertive language like go to home page, enter data, click on this and so on. This makes the understanding the test steps easy and test execution faster.

2. Create Test Case with End User in Mind

Ultimate goal of any software project is to create test cases that meets customer requirements and is easy to use and operate. A tester must create test cases keeping in mind the end user perspective

3. Avoid test case repetition.

Do not repeat test cases. If a test case is needed for executing some other test case, call the test case by its test case id in the pre-condition column

4. Do not Assume

Do not assume functionality and features of your software application while preparing test case. Stick to the Specification Documents.

5. Ensure 100% Coverage

Make sure you write test cases to check all software requirements mentioned in the specification document. UseTraceability Matrix to ensure no functions/conditions is left untested.

6. Test Cases must be identifiable.

Name the test case id such that they are identified easily while tracking defects or identifying a software requirement at a later stage.

7. Implement Testing Techniques

It's not possible to check every possible condition in your software application. Testing techniques help you select a few test cases with the maximum possibility of finding a defect.

Boundary Value Analysis (BVA): As the name suggests it's the technique that defines the testing of boundaries for specified range of values.

Equivalence Partition (EP): This technique partitions the range into equal parts/groups that tend to have the same behavior.

State Transition Technique: This method is used when software behavior changes from one state to another following particular action.

Error Guessing Technique: This is guessing/anticipating the error that may arise while testing.This is not a formal method and takes advantages of a tester's experience with the application

8. Self cleaning

The test case you create must return the Test Environment to the pre-test state and should not render the test environment unusable. This is especially true for configuration testing.

9. Repeatable and self-standing

The test case should generate the same results every time no matter who tests it

10. Peer Review.

After creating test cases, get them reviewed by your colleagues. Your peers can uncover defects in your test case design, which you may easily miss.

Test Case Management Tools

Test management tools are the automation tools that help to manage and maintain the Test Cases. Main Features of a test case management tool are

1. For documenting Test Cases: With tools you can expedite Test Case creation with use of templates
2. Execute the Test Case and Record the results: Test Case can be executed through the tools and results obtained can be easily recorded.
3. Automate the Defect Tracking: Failed tests are automatically linked to the bug tracker , which in turn can be assigned to the developers and can be tracked by email notifications.
4. Traceability: Requirements, Test cases, Execution of Test cases are all interlinked through the tools, and each case can be traced to each other to check test coverage.
5. Protecting Test Cases: Test cases should be reusable and should be protected from being lost or corrupted due to poor version control. Test Case Management Tools offer features like

• Naming and numbering conventions
• Versioning
• Read only storage
• Controlled access
• Off-site backup

Popular Test Management tools are : Quality Center and JIRA

Resources

• Please note that the template used will vary from project to project. Read this Article to Learn Test Case Template with Explanation of Important Fields

Sample Test Case in Excel